NOTE: On NNR Samantha Bunten of NBC Sports and I discussed the Cavs draft, the recent news in the NBA & NFL, and the biggest questions facing the teams in the AFC South & West.

The Indians are struggling as usual. Those of you that listen to NNR know all I expect from the Tribe is that they stay interesting until the Browns opens training camp. Unfortunately that seldom happens.

The problem is that while his nephew James L. Dolan is willing to spend big bucks on the New York Knicks, Larry Dolan is a tightwad in owning the Indians. Evidently Larry has never heard the adage “it takes money to make money.”

The Knicks are the 5th highest payroll in the NBA. In 2014-15 they spent 80.1 million. The Tribe is the 26th highest spending team spending 63.8 million.

The Tribe is offensively and defensively challenged. If the good pitching gives up 2 runs, the team has little chance of winning. If the questionable defense adds an unearned run, the team has no chance of coming back.

Early this year several “experts” were expecting the Tribe to get into the playoffs. That prediction was in the dumpster after the first month of the season.

I know Larry is old but either sell the team or let a few moths fly out of your purse and spend some money on the team to bring in a couple of solid offensive players. Otherwise the Tribe will have more relief pitchers in the bullpen than fans in the seats.

That is what I think. Tell us what you think by commenting here or tweeting me @NNRonDSN.

NOTE: News, Notes and Rumors podcast are BACK. Check out our thoughts on Fridays about the games coming up and Monday on the results of the weekend. My co-host is Samantha Bunten of NBC Sports. Podcasts can be heard on https://fryingpansports.com/radio-show/. Thanks for your support.

Bill Smith is a former coach of several semi-pro teams, has officiated both football and basketball, done color on radio for college football and basketball and has scouted talent. He edits https://fryingpansports.com. He has also published several novels onand a non-fiction work at http://www.merriam-press.com/. Follow him on twitter @NNRonDSN to get the schedule of Special News, Notes and Rumors broadcasts. You can hear the previous shows on https://fryingpansports.com/radio-show/.

He also edits.

To keep up with the News, Notes & Rumors podcasts, follow me on twitter @NNRonDSN.

With the Browns win over the Bengals Thursday there has been a lot of talk of the Browns being a contender for the playoffs. We got Tony’s answer on the podcast. But for me the answer is “Maybe.”

The reason I am not sure is the loss to the Jaguars. If the Browns had taken care of business they would have a game and a half lead on the rest of the AFC North which at least this season is the best division in the NFL. The history of the Browns since they have come back is they play up to their opponents or down depending on if the team they are facing is better or worse. Playoff teams win those games.

Playoff teams are able to run the ball. The Browns did well against the Bengals D, but in the previous 3 games averaged under 3 yards per carry. That is not what Playoff teams do.

The third area that distinguishes playoff teams from pretenders is their ability to stop the run. At times this season the Browns D has stopped the run. But more often they have struggled to do so. This season they are giving up an average of 134 yards per game which is 28th in the league.

A win over the Texans would be another good step toward the playoffs. But there are still criticial games ahead. The Browns need to keep winning and not over look anyone. Even a winless Jags team beat the Browns.

That is what I think. Tell us what you think by commenting here or tweeting me @NNRonDSN.

NOTE: News, Notes and Rumors podcast are BACK. Check out our thoughts on Fridays about the games coming up and Monday on the results of the weekend. My co-host is Samantha Bunten of NBC Sports. Podcasts can be heard on https://fryingpansports.com/radio-show/. Thanks for your support.

Bill Smith is a former coach of several semi-pro teams, has officiated both football and basketball, done color on radio for college football and basketball and has scouted talent. He edits https://fryingpansports.com. He has also published several novels onand a non-fiction work at http://www.merriam-press.com/. Follow him on twitter @NNRonDSN to get the schedule of Special News, Notes and Rumors broadcasts. You can hear the previous shows on https://fryingpansports.com/radio-show/.

He also edits.

To keep up with the News, Notes & Rumors podcasts, follow me on twitter @NNRonDSN.

David agreed that despite the slow start, the Cavs will be just fine. That is not to say that the team is without issues. However, Coach Blatt and the Cavs will work out the rolls of each player.

To begin with SG Dion Waiters needs to buy into his job as primary scorer off the bench. He has been the 2nd option with the Cavs but now is the 6th man. With the addition of Kevin Love, PF Tristan Thompson has to adjust to being on the bench at the start of the game as well. While he seems to get it Waiters seems to be resisting the idea.

There are other issues as well. One that will not be solved any time soon is the lack of a true big man at C. The Cavs brought in Brendan Haywood but so far that has not solved the problem. A second issue has been the 2nd unit’s inability to maintain the leads that the starters created. That should lessen over time as the rolls of the 2nd unit become more defined. If the unit is not able to correct the problem there will be changes on the roster.

But the Cavs will make the playoffs and likely be in the Eastern Conference finals. And I would not pick anyone in the league to carry the team to the finals more than LeBron James.

That is what I think. Tell us what you think by commenting here or tweeting me @NNRonDSN.

NOTE: News, Notes and Rumors podcast are BACK. Check out our thoughts on Fridays about the games coming up and Monday on the results of the weekend. My co-host is Samantha Bunten of NBC Sports. Podcasts can be heard on https://fryingpansports.com/radio-show/. Thanks for your support.

Bill Smith is a former coach of several semi-pro teams, has officiated both football and basketball, done color on radio for college football and basketball and has scouted talent. He edits https://fryingpansports.com. He has also published several novels onand a non-fiction work at http://www.merriam-press.com/. Follow him on twitter @NNRonDSN to get the schedule of Special News, Notes and Rumors broadcasts. You can hear the previous shows on https://fryingpansports.com/radio-show/.

He also edits.

To keep up with the News, Notes & Rumors podcasts, follow me on twitter @NNRonDSN.

Make no mistake about it. LeBron James is testing his new GM David Griffin to get Kevin Love. If Griffin fails the test LeBron “could” consider opting out after his first or second year. That does not mean he will leave Cleveland, but it does mean that this test will determine if Griffin is still the GM in 2015-16 season.

There is no question that LeBron coming back to the Cavs is the best news Cleveland sports fans have had since the Browns drafted Jim Brown. In my opinion Love will not sign a long term deal with any team except the Cavs. Like Cavs fans, Love is sick to death of losing and wants to win. The best chance to do that is in Cleveland with LeBron and Kyrie Irving.

If teams see Love as a rental, his trade value will decrease significantly. For example Golden State is not likely to give up SG Klay Thompson to get Love for a year. But the question is will the Cavs be willing to wait to make a deal for Love?

I believe that by waiting, the Cavs can get Love for a deal that does not include Andrew Wiggins. The pressure to do something with Love will grow on the Timberkitties as the days pass. He will walk away at the end of the season and the team gets nothing for him. Since he is their only valuable asset, they can not afford to let him walk.

However, I do not think Griffin can stand the heat and he will make a deal that includes Wiggins. While that is not a bad deal, the Cavs need to prove to LeBron that they are willing to do what is necessary to get him the help he wants. He left in 2010 because the team was unable to bring in talent to help him win. What many Cav fans do not know is LeBron did his best to try to recruit talent to join him in Cleveland prior to the decision. He is now working hard to get Love to join him.

Another question is can new head coach David Blatt find a way to utilize a big man? I suspect he will. Mike “Mr. Potatohead” Brown never could figure out how to use one.

The last question is can the Cavs win a title with LeBron, Love and Irving? I believe they can. Will Wiggins develop? Yes but the question is how many more games will the Cavs win next season with Love? LeBron is testing Griffin and the Cavs. The team had better pass.

That is what I think. Tell us what you think by commenting here or tweeting me @NNRonDSN.

Bill Smith is a former coach of several semi-pro teams, has officiated both football and basketball, done color on radio for college football and basketball and has scouted talent. He edits https://fryingpansports.com. He has also published several novels onand a non-fiction work at http://www.merriam-press.com/. Follow him on twitter @NNRonDSN to get the schedule of Special News, Notes and Rumors broadcasts. You can hear the previous shows on https://fryingpansports.com/radio-show/ and the live show Mondays at 6 PM Eastern time on .

He also edits.

To keep up with the News, Notes & Rumors podcasts, follow me on twitter @NNRonDSN.

Monday we will discuss the return of LeBron James and all the ramifications of that move with David Kay of walterfootball.com 6PM EDT on News, Notes & Rumors on or https://fryingpansports.com/radio-show/.

First let me say I am delighted that LeBron James, the best basketball player on earth, is coming back to the Cavs in the prime of his career. Now there is pressure on Pat Riley and the Heat. But LeBron also put serious pressure on the Timberwolves.

Decision 2 has eliminated nearly all the possible trade options for the Timberkitties’ only asset—Kevin Love. It has also prevented any chance of a sign and trade with anyone other than the Cavs. Love wants to win a title and he has 0 chance to get that in Minnesota. He will only go to Cleveland. He will not sign an extension with any other team even if he is traded.

Without a chance of an extension, Love’s value in a trade is badly reduced. No team will give up something like Andrew Wiggins for a rental player. So expect the Cavs to try to make a deal now and if it does not succeed at the trade deadline as well. It is in the best interest of both the Cavs and Timberkitties to work out a deal before the season. The Cavs need the cap space to bring in Love and the Timberkitties need to get something for a guy that will walk away at the end of the season.

With LeBron on the roster, the Timberkitties realize that the Cavs can recruit a lot of free agents at a discount. The price that I see them willing to accept would be SG Dion Waiters, PF Tristan Thompson,

and perhaps SF Anthony Bennett plus a couple of 1st round picks. That is a deal the Cavs should jump on.

The Heat are now 100-1 odds to win a title. Expect C Chris Bosh to sign a max deal with Houston and SG Dwyane Wade to return to Miami because he has no place else to go. Then we will really see just how smart Riley is at rebuilding a team. Don’t hold your breath for a comeback by the Heat.

That is what I think. Tell us what you think by commenting here or tweeting me @NNRonDSN.

Bill Smith is a former coach of several semi-pro teams, has officiated both football and basketball, done color on radio for college football and basketball and has scouted talent. He edits https://fryingpansports.com. He has also published several novels onand a non-fiction work at http://www.merriam-press.com/. Follow him on twitter @NNRonDSN to get the schedule of Special News, Notes and Rumors broadcasts. You can hear the previous shows on https://fryingpansports.com/radio-show/ and the live show Mondays at 6 PM Eastern time on .

He also edits.

To keep up with the News, Notes & Rumors podcasts, follow me on twitter @NNRonDSN.

As I mentioned on Friday (The Cleveland Cavaliers have issues.), new head coach David Blatt problems that he must overcome before the Cavs can even think about trying to lure LeBron James back to Cleveland. There is no

way that UFA SF Luol Deng resigns. That leaves a hole the size of the Grand Canyon in the starting lineup. C Anderson Varejao can’t stay healthy and back up C Spencer Hawes is a UFA and likely to leave if he gets a decent offer.

If Blatt can solve the issues, the first overall pick Andrew Wiggins will help make the team a playoff contender. However, even in the weak Eastern conference the Cavs are a 5th or 6th seed. There is no way they can win a playoff series against the top teams.

Where might LeBron be interested in going?

In my opinion LeBron will not go anywhere except back to Miami or to Cleveland. Most of the teams that have 2 stars already are in the West. He won’t go to the West because the path to the finals is much easier in the East. Also he will look like a mercenary going to a 3rd team just because he lost to the Spurs. By staying in Miami and taking less in salary, he looks like a team guy. By going back to Cleveland he looks like a hero going to save his home town team.

What do the Cavs have to do to get LeBron to even think about coming back?

About the only thing that will get LeBron to consider coming back would be to bring a super-star vet to join point guard Kyrie Irving. All the conversation around the Cavs has just one option—trading for PF Kevin Love. Landing Love would definitely catch the attention of LeBron. But there are issues with that concept.

First, Love will be costly in terms of talent and assets to get him. It would likely cost the Cavs Wiggins, SG Dion Waiters, PF Tristan Thompson and 2 future Cavs 1st round picks. Given that there is just 1 year left on Love’s contract, that would gut the Cavs and their future for the chance that LeBron would come.

Second, Love will only sign an extension with the Cavs if LeBron is in Cleveland. If LeBron goes back to Miami, Love will leave after 2014-15 season and the Cavs will be back in the lottery from now on.

Is there an alternative that might catch LeBron’s interest?

There are some alternatives but you have to wait for tomorrow’s posting to find out what they are.

Bill Smith is a former coach of several semi-pro teams, has officiated both football and basketball, done color on radio for college football and basketball and has scouted talent. He edits https://fryingpansports.com. He has also published several novels onand a non-fiction work at http://www.merriam-press.com/. Follow him on twitter @NNRonDSN to get the schedule of Special News, Notes and Rumors broadcasts. You can hear the previous shows on https://fryingpansports.com/radio-show/ and the live show Mondays at 6 PM Eastern time on .

He also edits.

To keep up with the News, Notes & Rumors podcasts, follow me on twitter @NNRonDSN.